Do you remember the Chronometry Contest in 2009?
Some manufactures decided to attend this contest, like in the good old days, where every precision timer prepared, for his brand, his " champion ".
The watches sent to the Le Locle " Musée de L' Horlogerie " by JLC were the Master Tourbillon and the Gyrotourbillon 1, after being adjusted by a team led by the Technical Director, Mr Jean Claude Meylan.
The timing results of the competition show that the Master Tourbillon gained on average 0.13
seconds a day, or less than 47.5 seconds a year, and its rate did not vary more than 0.28
seconds a day.
It was the winner of the contest, very closely followed by the Gyrotourbillon 1.
We were in December 2009:
Like a reminder... that the the simple decorum of the Master Tourbillon hides, in reality, a true champion of accuracy.
The Master Tourbillon...
... Which was developed in a bigger case, with the Master Grand Tourbillon ( here, 175th Anniversary version ) ...
Without forgetting that, in 2010, JLC released another variation of the Master Tourbillon in a smaller case ( 39 mm ) with a " central round date ) :
... to finally adopt the Master Grande Tradition case.
Here, things are simple, as it is very close to the Master Grand Tourbillon:
Same size ( 43 mm ) and thickness ( 12, 95 mm ), same movement ( Cal 978 ), almost the same dial ( the " bigger " difference being that the index numbers at 9 and 3 were changed on the MGT Tourbillon for triangular indexes ).
The only thing which changes is the case, with its more curved and sweeter lugs.
Personally, I much prefer the Master Grande Tradition case for its lugs.
I find the watch gains in elegance.
The dial on the platinum version is grey, with rodhium plated indexes and hands, while the rose gold version receives a beige dial with gilt hour markers and hands.
The rose gold is not limited, while the platinum version is limited to 200 pieces.
Here are some pictures of the platinum:
And, to end, a view on the famous Cal 978:
Let's not forget that this Tourbillon, like the Master Tourbillon or the Master Grand Tourbillon, also offers a 2d time zone, a jumping date from 15 to 16 which you can adjust forward and backward, and a power reserve of 48 Hours.
Best to all.
Nicolas.